Positano is a small picturesque town with splendid coastal views, on the famous Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy. The town itself is perched on an enclave on the face of a hill and winds down towards the waters of the Amalfi Coast. Naturally beautiful, Positano attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The town is approximately a 75 minute drive away from Naples and twenty minutes away from Sorrento. You can also get to Positano by one of the buses run by the Sita coach company and, in the summer months, by boat.

SITA Coach, PH +39 89 405 145. Buses along the coast from Sorrento via Positano to Amalfi 2-3 times per hour. Tickets cannot be purchased on board but are very easy to find in bars, newsagents, etc. The SITA buses are the least expensive option, but can be slow, and are often very crowded. A day pass that includes Ravello is available for about €10-12.

City Sightseeing. Apr-Oct only. Hourly buses from Sorrento to Positano (40 min) and then to Amalfi (50 min more); €10 one stop, €15 two stops, €6 for the return ticket. Buy tickets from agents at the bus stops. (prices were accurate when published, Feb 2020)

From the downtown Naples train station, you can take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Transfer to the Sita bus in Sorrento. The Sita Bus leaves at least twice an hour from Sorrento during the high season.

From the Naples Airport Capodichino, you can take a bus directly to Sorrento and bypass the Circumvesuviana train (about €10).

Note: If you`re taking the bus from Sorrento, sit next to a window on the right hand side for the best views. From Salerno sit on the left side for the best views and excellent photo opportunities. The bus drops you at the top of the town. You must walk, taxi, or bus to your hotel. During the peak season (starting in late April) this bus can get very crowded. You may have to wait a couple hours and fight your way onto a bus to get back.

If you’re coming from Rome, you might also want to consider taking a train to Salerno and then take a Travel Mar ferry to Positano.

By Car: Take the main road off of the Autostrada from Sorrento but make sure to have a reservation at a car park as it is very difficult to find parking.

By Ferry: Travelmar Ferries travels from Amalfi to Positano 4 times a day. It is a 15 min ferry rid and costs about adult €8, child €6.50.

The Aliscafo Hydrofoil travels from Sorrento to Positano 8 teims per day. There is also a ferry from Naples that is slightly more expensive than the bus but you`ll save an hour on the road and get some beautiful views of the cliffs on the Amalfi coast.

Bus: This is the simplest and cheapest way to move around the area. There is a public bus that goes along the main road in Positano if get tired from walking around. In Positano, the orange town buses make the loop of Viale Pasitea, Via Cristoforo Colombo, and Via G. Marconi (SS 163), stopping several times along the way. You can purchase tickets for about €1.60 onboard.

SITA busses will also take you along the coast to the other villages. This is an option if you would like to do a day trip to another town.

Ferry: A faster and more scenic way to get along the coast is by taking ferries. Travel Mar is one of the main companies that offers multiple ferries to the majority of towns. The cost varies from what town you’re visiting. For example a one-way to Capri is about €20 while a one-way to Amalfi is around €8.

Vespa: You can rent a vespa for a day from Positano and ride along the coast. Only for the brave however. While there is only one main road, the cliffs turn abruptly and the view looking down may scare some away. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Private Car: While it is the most expensive, renting a private car with a driver is always an option. Taxi: To reach other towns and villages, hiring a taxi or a car service with a chauffeur is a great option, especially if you plan to stay here only a day or two; plus, an experienced local driver can double as a guide.

There are loads of little stairs and steep inclines leading from everywhere to everywhere straight. Alternatively, you can avoid climbing by veering on the main road, but it will take you double the time. You will probably be a little sore after walking around Positano for a day or two. If you have a stroller or heavy luggage, you will get an extra workout.

Positano is also a small town. If anything you can walk the entire town within 20 minutes on the main road. The fun of course is getting lost within the narrow alleyways off the main road. There you`ll find stunning cute vignettes, cats, and stunning views of the coast!

This really depends on your budget and the type of vacation you are looking for. If you are a beach person and just want a relaxing holiday, go for it and stay a week! However, hotels are more expensive in Positano.

If you`re working with a more limited budget, it is possible to enjoy what Positano has to offer for just one night. While you can do a day trip from Naples, it is nice to stay at least one night. After all the cruise ships have left and the day-trippers have returned to home base, Positano seems to quiet down and you can really experience a different side of the town.

It is no surprise that the food will be Italian, but expect a lot of seafood. The Amalfi Coast in general boasts some of the world`s finest fish cuisine. Shrimps, redfish, pezzogne, bream, sea urchins, octopus, blue fish, mollusks, are the main fish you`ll see offering up unforgettable dishes such as `scialatielli ai frutti di mare`, a dish made with seafood and the fresh pasta typical of the Amalfi Coast.

Helpful Hints: Here are a few things to note about dining in Positano. Reservations are recommended, especially in the high season. Limoncello (pronounced lee-mohn-chell-o) is a great treat to have after lunch or dinner, typically serves as a shot. Although it`s served in a shot glass, you should sip and savor it. Limoncello is delicious and sweet. It`s such a lovely way to end a meal.

Restaurants generally serve lunch from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, and dinner from 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm (or later in the summer). Keep in mind that local generally eat lunch at 1:30 pm and dinner at 9:00 pm.

Souvenir shops line the main street in Positano. You will find a range of Positano clothes, lemoncello, hand painted ceramics, lemon goodies and custom sandals. If you purchase a pair of sandals, they will allow you to pick out the material, color, and style and make them right then and there for you. Such a unique souvenir!

Just like any city in Italy, it can get cold in the winter and hot in the summer. To be safe during the summer months, a light jacket can be a lifesaver if it gets chilly at night. Also, with the many gift shops lining the street you can always buy something new. Also a pair of comfortable shoes will be necessary to climb the many steps of Positano.

The currency used in Italy is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.

We recommend you carry cash on you at all times as some businesses don`t except credit cards, especially in the small towns along the cost. You can get by with just a credit card but be sure to carry euros for small purchases like water.

Positano and the entire Amalfi coast is reserved for relaxation (except the many stairs that you have to walk everyday). Spend your days at the beach. There are two beaches in Positano. Spaggia Grande is the main beach that acts as the center of town. If you are looking for something quieter head to Fornillo, just a 5-10 minute walk along the coastal pathway.

Take a ride around the Amalfi Coast on a private boat, enjoy fresh Italian food and have more than one negroni during aperitivo, take a trip to Capri, capture the views from every angle, design you`re own custom sandals and take in the amazing vibes of the area.

Popular opinion has May as the best month to visit Positano - the temperatures are good (with all the steps, you don’t want it too hot!), the flowers are blooming, and you`re not yet in the peak tourist season. September is also popular, as the weather is still fine, and the crowds have largely thinned.

You don`t need to speak Italian in the Amalfi coast area. Amalfi and the coastal towns are very American-friendly. You`ll find many of the locals and employees in the service industry all speak fluent English.

Italian is the language of Amalfi (and the entire Amalfi Coast in Italy), although many residents do speak English to some degree, we suggest you get a good English-Italian guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Summer Music is an international chamber music festival that takes place in late August/early September every year. The Festival of the Assunta is a lively event held August 14 and 15, when the violent attack of the Saracens and the Madonna`s miraculous intervention are reenacted, accompanied by much noise and fanfare by Positanese of all ages. The histrionics include a fake fire and colorful historic costumes.

During the warm summer nights, Positano`s bars are packed with locals and visitors drinking aperitivi and indulging in people-watching. If you are in the mood for luxury, have drinks on the delightful terrace at the hotel Le Sirenuse; for less-formal entertainment head to the beach area. You`ll find something for everyone including dancing, live music, piano bars, clubs, cafes, and so much more all happening around town at night.

Emergency, dial 112

Ambulance, dial 118

You'll find a pharmacy (tel. 081-8781226) on Corso Italia 131. The hospital (tel. 081-5331111) is on Corso Italia 1. You can call the police at tel. 112, 113, or 081-8075311; and you can reach the fire department at tel. 115.